title: A comparison of infection control practices of different groups of oral specialists and general dental practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the infection control practices of general dentists and dental specialty groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was mailed to 5997 dentists in 1994; the response rate was 70%. The data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression (reference group: general dentists).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When sociodemographic influences were taken into consideration, significant predictors of routine infection control practices included all of the following characteristics (odds ratios are in parentheses): 1. Gloves: being younger than 40 years of age (4.5) and being female (5.9). 2. Using gloves and changing gloves after each patient: being younger than 40 years of age (4.0), being female (3.0), being an oral surgeon (3.6), and being an orthodontist (0.2). 3. Using gloves, masks, and protective eyewear: being younger than 40 years of age (2.5), being female (2.3), and being an orthodontist, oral physician, or oral pathologist (0.2). 4. Hepatitis B vaccination for the practitioner: being younger than 40 years of age (5.1). 5. Hepatitis B vaccination for all clinical staff members: being younger than 40 years of age (1.2), being an oral surgeon (1.7), and being an orthodontist (0.6). 6. Heat sterilization of handpieces: being younger than 40 years of age (1.5), being an oral surgeon (5.4), and being an orthodontist (0.2). 7. Taking no additional precautions for patients with HIV: being younger than 40 years of age (1.7), being a periodontist (2.6), being a pedodontist (2.3), and being an oral physician/oral pathologist (4.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved compliance with recommended infection control procedures is required for all groups and is particularly necessary for orthodontists.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009864:Ontario; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D013039:Specialties, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines